The NBA Cup Knockout Round is Here | HOOPS Daily, 12/10/2024
Previewing today’s NBA Cup games, five must-see players, and more.
The Tip-Off: 3 Things You Need to Know
1. Clippers’ head coach Ty Lue on Kawhi: “He’s almost crying talking about letting the team down”
2. Raptors’ Scottie Barnes leaves game vs Knicks early with ankle injury, x-rays clean
3. The NBA fines Wolves’ Anthony Edwards $25,000 for profanity during postgame media availability
NYC Karl-Anthony Towns is Built Different
We only had one game Monday night but they made sure it was a good one. RJ Barrett continued his strong season vs his former team but an injury to Scottie Barnes that forced him to leave early proved too much for Toronto to overcome as the Knicks got the win heading into their Wednesday NBA Cup matchup.
Karl-Anthony Towns has been awesome so far this season since being reintroduced to the Thibs’ System and he’s carrying himself differently as well.
And then there’s also this moment which, I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen KAT talk spicy like this.
After the game, we were then treated to another incredible moment between podcast hosts1 Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart:
The vibes are strong in NY right now.
Five Players I’ve Loved Watching So Far This Season
I know today’s newsletter is a little light with only one game yesterday and two the next few days so I wanted to do a little something different and highlight a few players I’ve really enjoyed seeing play this year. Whether it’s an expanded role, a breakout, or something else, each of these players has quickly risen to must-see on my League Pass screens.
1. Norman Powell
When I saw this quote from Norman Powell before the season, I was skeptical to say the least. Kawhi hurt, PG gone, Harden seeming like his peak was behind him. I certainly didn’t expect the Clippers to be 6th in the West powered by a resurgent Harden and Powell, who continues to level up.
Powell is enjoying a career year in just about every single statistic but what blows my mind is the efficiency. 49.2% from the field, 48.6 from 3!? This man was not lying when he said addition by subtraction and I’m so glad we get to see it.
2. Dyson Daniels
I thought the Hawks were getting a solid player when they sent Dejounte Murray to the Pelicans for a package including Dyson Daniels but I didn’t realize they were going to be unleashing one of the greatest defenders we’ve seen in years. Just under 22 years old, Daniels is on pace for over 260 steals this season which would tie him with Alvin Robinson for sixth-most in a single season. He’s also well above record pace for deflections, looking to double-up the current single-season leader Robert Covington (315), Daniels is on pace for 600+. He’s single-handedly revised the team’s defense as Clint Capela, Jalen Johnson, and DeAndre Hunter don’t have to work to cover everything, Daniels’ lead defense at the perimeter and ability to disrupt even something as simple as a dribble hand-off is a huge part of the Hawks’ turnaround from a slow start this season.
The Hawks have played 25 games and the NBA already has a 7-minute video of Dyson Daniels’ defensive highlights.
3. Stephon Castle
Learning from Chris Paul and playing alongside Wemby was always going to be an ideal situation for a rookie to find themselves in but the Spurs’ offense has hit another gear since Stephon Castle entered the starting lineup. He averages 14.6pts and 4.5a as a starter but it’s the pace, the vision, the way he tilts the court even with Wembanyama hogging so much defensive attention. He’s already someone the opposing teams have to account for and that creates even more opportunities for Wemby.2 The real difference is going to be as he becomes a better shooter from outside the paint, currently 8’ or closer is the only spot on the court he’s shooting above 35% from so if he keeps developing and getting these opportunities all season, the Spurs are going to have an even deadlier two-man combo with Area 51.
4. Tre Mann
The Hornets have surprisingly emerged as one of my most watched teams this season and a lot of it has to do with Tre Mann. Oversized shorts, a headband, and a relentless will to attack the rim, Mann has been incredible to watch. He’s been great with the outside shooting but it’s his drives I really wanna highlight. I was unfamiliar with his handles, this dude has the ball on a string facing just about any type of defense and is constantly hitting shots from the most absurd angles.
Here are all of his drives that have resulted in makes this season via ShotCreator:
https://shotcreator.com/videos/nba?scsstp[league_id]=1&scsstp[season]=2024-25&scsstp[season_type]=Regular+Season&scsstp[player_id]=iN7H9qr306G&scsstp[shot_filters][shot_token][0]=Driving
5. Amen Thompson & Tari Eason
I know I’m teetering dangerously close to becoming an old-head with 3 of my 5 choices being based on defense and not flashy passes and deep threes but I can’t help it. I’ve been really impressed with all of the strong, disruptive defense being played by such young teams. No duo is more fun to watch on the defensive side of the ball than Thompson and Eason.
Shoutout StatDefender on YouTube for this incredible video on the duo:
Players of the Week
Watching Tonight
We’ve got two NBA Cup Knockout Round matchups tonight
Magic at Bucks
Mavericks at Thunder
Both of these should be very good games, I’m curious to see what having Isaiah Hartenstein does for OKC’s rim protection against Dallas’ rim running offense and then in the first game, Orlando has remained a buzzsaw on defense against just about every type of team imaginable. Can they still shut down the Bucks enough to get the win even without Paolo or Franz in the lineup?
Thank you guys for stopping by again today, I appreciate all of the support each and every day, it’s been unbelievable to see. I really hope everyone has a good day and is enjoying the holiday season as much as possible. Enjoy the basketball tonight, we should be in for two great games. Take care.
And I guess also basketball players.
Obviously he’s also like 8ft tall so it’s not like he needs help getting clean shots off or having a mismatch.